Proposta de modelo de requisitos para ferramentas de visualização de ontologia de domínio

Abstract

The objetct of this study was the visualization of ontologies in the perspective of Knowledge Organization Systems (KOS), as potential mechanisms to favor the use and sharing of the knowledge of its users. The objective was to propose usability requirements for ontologies visualization tools, based on the study of users' needs, in order to favor the cognitive aspects of the access to informational content. The theoretical frameworks that supported the development of the research were Knowledge Organization Systems, Information Visualization and Usability Engineering. The research universe was a domain ontology called OntoAgroHidro, created by researchers from Embrapa Agropecuária Informática. The nature of the research is applied character, with bibliographical, experimental and case study research design. The methodological procedures consisted of a systematized literature review and a contextual use analysis, involving interviews with fourteen users, task tests and evaluation of ontology visualization tools. The systematized revision process of the literature adopted was the Proknow-C, which made possible a categorization of the studies and perspectives of researches within the thematic of ontologies visualization. The assessment of the context of use was performed according to the process called Praxis-u and allowed an analysis of users, tasks, environment and similar products. As a result, the paper presents a description of contextual use analysis an a specification of usability requirements as a basis for the process of developing ontologies visualization solutions. The requirements are shown in a list of functions to attend the users necessities. In addition, the usability requirements are listed in the levels of effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction that users must achieve when performing their tasks. It is concluded that the usability of an ontologies visualization tool can be designed aiming the favoring of the use satisfaction by its users. It is hoped that this work will contribute to the development of solutions that make it possible to visualize and navigate the semantic structure of an ontology, with an user-friendly usability, for easier understanding of domains and dissemination of knowledge within a community